Come take a look at our top 5 “favorite” transports of all time in Warhammer 40,000!

The Grim-Dark is a dangerous place. That danger, however, doesn’t stop the armies of 40k from fighting! In fact, they have developed new and exciting ways of getting to those battles. Here’s our list of some of our “favorite” transports in all of 40k.

(Note: We’re skipping transports for interstellar travel like Battle Barges and Striker Cruisers. This list is focusing on transports that have rules for use in tabletop games of 40k.)

“The Wave Serpent is the CraftworldEldar‘s main troop transport. Based upon the Falcon grav-tank chassis, it uses powerful anti-gravitic engines to deliver its cargo of Guardians and Aspect Warriors to any part of the battlefield. Its ability to travel all but the smallest Webway routes, and the tremendous speed with which it can operate, puts the Wave Serpent as possibly the best troop transport in the galaxy.”

We went back and forth on this one or the Falcon and we decided to settle on the Wave Serpent. It’s been a staple in Eldar lists for years and in recent codexes the “Serpent Shield” has been devastating when used effectively. While this transport might not be the meta wrecking ball it once was, it’s still one of the most effective transports in the game. Plus, it’s got a great design that’s held-up over the years – you can tell it’s “Eldar” just by looking at it!

“Despite this emphasis on transport, they are armed with twin-linked Tesla Destructors and are still formidable craft in their own right when compared to the attack craft of lesser races. The favoured tool of any Necron invasion, they are used as the first wave of a Necron attack and transport troops into battle with a captive wormhole linked to a distant Tomb World built into its hull. They are also used as scout ships and are capable of interplanetary travel.”

The Night Scythe is another super effective transport in Warhammer 40,000. That’s because really doesn’t transport troops in the traditional sense. No, this flyer teleports in Necron Warriors, much like the Monolith, where they need to go and then provides air support as needed. There was a time when the “Croissants of Doom” reigned supreme. While this one can technically be considered a space-worthy vessel, we’re including it because of the dominance it once had the tabletop.

Ahhh Drop Pods…This transport might be a one-way ticket to the surface but when it allow you to get that “alpha strike” as effectively as it does, it’s totally worth it. From your basic ‘Pod, to the Lucius, to the Kharybdis and the Dreadclaw (ok, those last two aren’t technically one-way trips) the Drop Pod gets the job done! If you need to get a unit into the thick of the fighting in a relatively safe and reliable manner, Drop Pods are a points efficient way to do just that. Oh, and if you happen to have a way to make them Objective Secured, all the better!

This transport was hotly debated by the BoLS Crew for our list. Does it deserve to be on our top 5? Well, we went back-and-forth on this one but we wanted to included it simply because there was a time when Venoms were prevalent. They were so obnoxious we actually held a contest to name the plural of them. And that’s how they became known as “A Douche of Venoms.” The Venom is the reason we put “favorite” transports in quotes….They might not be the hot stuff they once were but we still think they deserve to make the cut.

The Thunderhawk gunship is a multi-use aircraft in wide use by Space Marine Chapters. Each Chapter of the Space Marines maintains its own fleet of Thunderhawks. Normally reserved for large-scale battles, time and time again its use in the various fields of war has been proven. With such might like this, only a great threat to the Imperium can demand use of these mighty craft.

We couldn’t NOT include the Thunderhawk! It’s basically the inspiration for ALL the Marine flyers/transports in all of 40k. The Stormraven, Stormbird, Caestus, Fire Raptor…I could go on. Heck, even that weird Space Wolves Flyer takes some of it’s design cues from the classic Thunderhawk. The Thunderhawk is an icon of 40k and that’s why it deserves to be on this list!

Bonus Bonus: Tau Manta

“The Manta Missile Destroyer, also known simply as the Manta,is a super-heavy vessel used by the Tau Empire for the transportation of whole Hunter Cadres. A rank of Kor’ui is sufficient to pilot one.On the borderline between an Attack Craft and a full starship, these small spacecraft are useful in a variety of roles. In space they are used to attack enemy starships and are a match for entire squadrons of Imperial starfighters, while during planetary assaults they function as drop ships and heavy fire support for Tau ground forces. Alongside Ballistic Suits they are the Tau’s nearest equivalent to an Imperial Titan or OrkGargant.”

I’m just going to leave these pictures here:

Did we leave your favorite transport off? Let us know in the comments below!

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Ordinatus Priam – a huge tunneling machine purpose-built for the siege of Priam during the Horus Heresy. It was designed to dig down to the planet’s crust and move through the white-hot lava beneath. It transported four companies of Imperial Guard to enter Priam after bypassing its defenses, but parts of its shielding failed during the operation, causing it irreparable damage

LeroyJenkinss

So it was useless? Serving up more guard to die…

durendin

They all burned to death in molten lava underground. That’s pretty top-end Grimdark transportation…

SilentPony

Yeah right? A rousing success for Grimdark

Alexander Slizewski

The most grimdark transport I can think of is the daemon possessed Slaanesh Land Raider. Not only is its size dominating, but it’s able to change it’s gender to whenever it pleases; from male, to female, to neutral asexually producing plant.

Such a feat is impossible in today’s society, But in the far future, I can only imagine the horror of a charging angry pe pe transforming into a man eating va jay jay, followed by a ecstasy filled cabbage. Grimdark INDEED.

I guess the fact that its truly terrible track design means it can’t steer at all, so is doomed to almost instant destruction upon the battlefield, yet is still produced by the million and given to elite troops is pretty grimdark.

Come on, really? No love for the Vampire? The prettiest transport in the whole game?

Knight_of_Infinite_Resignation

surely the grimdarkest transport you can use in a game is the Dreadclaw? Its baroque, possibly inhabited by a Daemonic machine spirit and occasionally eats its passengers, as well as landing on the enemy and squashing them!

301stFeinminsterArmoured

You mean “burninating.”

Raven Jax

Credit where credit is due, I think there’s probably more Rhinos on tabletops than anything else.

My vote would be the Gorka/Morkanaut. Transports that walk; that must jakes sense!

CoolCrib

I love the Crimson Fists Landraider that had such a hardcore machine spirit that even though all its crew died, it continued on killing Orks for weeks until the treads were so clogged up with their remains. Lootaz entered the vehicle in which it then overheated its fusion reactor and exploded, killing a ton of Orks!
CF Techmarines finally found the machine and is now working transfering the machine spirit..

Dan Keller

Does a Tervigon count?

301stFeinminsterArmoured

Tyrannocyte.

JL

#1 thru #5 should all be differently converted Trukks & Battlewagons

301stFeinminsterArmoured

Gorgon. Is a DUKW, basically. Also like the Stormlord, for the same reasons, plus mo’ Dakka. And Goliaths.